Controlled Drug Prescriptions

Policy

To ensure that we satisfy the legislative and safety demands of managing and prescribing controlled drugs we:

• ensure prescribing is safe and effected, guided by the Principles for Quality and Safe Prescribing Practice
• document all information required by the Ministry of Health

  To satisfy legal and claiming requirements all prescriptions must include:

  • name and address of the patient (a PO Box or rural RD number is not adequate)
  • patient’s NHI number
  • patient's code – circle Y, J, or A, and then 1, 3, 4, or NS
  • date the prescription was written
  • name of the drug – use generic medicine names
  • form and strength of the medication
  • clear instructions

    If instructions are long and complex, provide the patient with printed information, for example from NZ Formulary.

  • duration of treatment or total amount of the product

    This must be no more than 3 months' worth, unless an oral contraceptive.

  • prescriber's signature (printed or handwritten prescriptions only)
  • prescriber’s Medical Council or Nursing Council registration number.
• generate ePrescriptions for controlled drugs via the New Zealand ePrescription Service (NZePS)
• ensure all controlled drug prescriptions generated via NZePS meet the legal requirements of an ePrescription

  Legal requirements of an ePrescription:

  • generated via NZePS
  • contains a unique barcode
  • barcode used at the point of dispensing at the pharmacy.

  Refer to Te Whatu Ora's guidance on Signature Exempt Prescriptions and remote prescribing for detailed information on signature-exempt prescriptions, and the temporary exemption for non-NZePS signature-exempt prescriptions.

• meet requirements for the storage and management of controlled drugs specified in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977.

All controlled drug prescriptions must be authorised by a prescriber, who meets the standards for prescribing from their relevant professional body. Legal responsibility for all prescribed medications remains with the prescriber.

All controlled drug ePrescriptions are visible in the patient record in the PMS. Controlled drugs are included in our prescription audits.

In an unusual situation such as a power cut or system failure we may handwrite the prescription using a controlled drug prescription pad. Any controlled drug prescription pads held at the practice, and any prescriptions written using the pads, are recorded in the controlled drug register.

For controlled drug register and controlled drug pad management, see Controlled Drug Stock.

Writing a controlled drug prescription using NZePS

Enter the controlled drug prescription details into the Medications tab of the PMS. Send the prescription to the pharmacy via NZePS.

It is not necessary to write "Signature Exempt" on the prescription.

If you experience connection issues with NZePS it may be necessary to restart the PMS.